Gaeilge on Screen: Why the Irish Language is Resonating With Audiences Worldwide

By Dáracha McGlynn

Aontas has been selected as Ireland’s 2027 entry for the Oscars in the ‘Best International Feature Film’ category. It is the fifth TG4-backed project chosen in the last five years, following Arracht, Foscadh, An Cailín Ciúin and Kneecap. It’s clear to see that the demand for content as Gaeilge (through Irish) has increased following an explosion in popularity in recent years. From music to the big screen, creatives have helped bring the language to a worldwide audience.

An Cailín Ciúin was the first submission to achieve a nomination in the category. The film centers on Cáit, a young girl sent to stay with relatives on their farm in rural Ireland. While themes in the film such as loss and loneliness are relatively universal, the Irish language seems to be the bow tying together all the elements that made the project the success it was. It is now the highest-grossing Irish-language film of all time. Its success helped spark an overwhelming interest in people wishing to learn the language, which contributed to a growing audience for projects through Irish.

Another project which brought Gaeilge to the forefront in recent years was Rich Peppiatt’s Kneecap. It is a drastically different piece but serves as an equally perfect example of how the language has been able to explore themes in a uniquely Irish way to audiences across the world. The film’s unapologetic exploration of complex issues resonated with audiences all across the world, with the film passing the €1 million mark at the Box Office just four weeks after its release [1]. Peppiatt also took home the BAFTA for ‘Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer’ [2]. The film showed the general public that Ireland could tackle heavy topics through our native language but still create a highly successful film that communities could relate to.

This year’s Irish submission, Aontas follows three unlikely thieves as they attempt to rob an Irish Credit Union in a small rural town, where everyone knows who they are. McCann’s filmmaking is so striking that the feature feels reminiscent of what we might see coming out of a Hollywood studio. The fact that a film of such high calibre, with such intricate twists and turns, was created through the Irish language is promising for the future.

What’s interesting when looking at these projects in particular is how they were able to translate so clearly to a wider, non-Irish-speaking audience. All have quite contrasting characters and themes and each manage to portray Irish culture in their own unique way. These projects, alongside a plethora of others, showcase things that we all deal with, but show the world a perspective it may not have seen before.

Gaeilge has had a major boost in popularity in recent years following the release of such high-quality projects through Gaeilge and as a result of what many call ‘the Irish Language revival’. The demand to learn can be seen here as The Irish News reported a 30% increase in A-Level Irish [3], while the Belfast Telegraph has reported that “there has been a 227% surge in the number of students enrolling on Irish-language courses at Queen’s University Belfast” [4].

TG4 have benefited from the boom with a major increase in allocated funding. In 2019, they spent £26.3 million on Irish-language content [5]. Last year, their total funding from the government totaled to £65.4 million [6]. This massive increase in funding reflects the growing interest in projects as Gaeilge.

This demand has been aided by the increased visibility of the language not only on our screens, but in our music with examples like techno group LE BOOM and even Gaeilge being showcased by the major streaming platform Netflix. Last year, House of Guinness became the first show on the platform to have Irish-language subtitles. Although not exclusively in the language, it is encouraging to see a global business making Gaeilge accessible for viewers, especially with a show whose subject matter is synonymous with Irish culture. Following the announcement, the show’s creator Steven Knight told BBC News NI that “the Irish language is such a vital part of the country’s culture and identity, and making the series accessible in this way allows us to celebrate that heritage and reach those viewers who prefer to watch as Gaeilge” [7].

Irish culture has long been embraced all over the world, and it seems that many of these stories that are being told in our language are exciting audiences because they provide a way to connect with the culture on a deeper level. Everyone loves a pint of Guinness, but it seems people are now understanding Gaeilge is just as integral a part of Irish culture, and that our stories deserve to be told through it.

References

[1] Irish Film and Television Network (IFTN). “Kneecap crosses €1m mark at Irish Box Office.” IFTN. August 30, 2024. https://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4295814&tpl=archnews&force=1

[2] British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). “Winners Announced: 2025 EE BAFTA Film Awards.” BAFTA. February 16, 2025. https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/winners-announced-2025-ee-bafta-film-awards/

[3] Shiels, Conor. “Irish A-Levels Up 30% in a Year as Language Closes in on Top Spot in Northern Ireland.” The Irish News. August 14, 2026 https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/irish-a-levels-up-30-in-a-year-as-language-closes-in-on-top-spot-in-northern-ireland-5JTRL3G3JBHUHAT2HAP42246TM/

[4] Campbell, Brett. “227% Surge in Irish Learners at QUB Set to Continue Amid Campus Revival for Language.” Belfast Telegraph. December 8 2025. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/227-surge-in-irish-learners-at-qub-set-to-continue-amid-campus-revival-for-language/a/112227268.html

[5] TG4. “TG4’s Annual Report for 2019 Reveals Many Successes for the Station.” TG4. July 3, 2020. https://www.tg4.ie/en/information/press/press-releases/2020-2/tg4s-annual-report-for-2019-reveals-many-successes-for-the-station/

[6] TG4. “TG4 Welcomes Significant Funding Boost of €5.4m in Budget 2026.” TG4. October 7, 2025. https://www.tg4.ie/en/information/press/press-releases/2025-2/tg4-welcomes-significant-funding-boost-of-e5-4m-in-budget-2026/

[7] O’Connor, Barry. “Netflix Irish subtitles ‘step in right direction’ for language.” BBC News. September 27, 2025. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly197w60g1o